Acts 1:1-2…. The Purpose of the Book of Acts

1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

Acts 1:1 The former G3303 G4413 treatise G3056 have I made G4160, O G5599 Theophilus G2321, of G4012 all G3956 that Jesus G2424 began G756 both to do and teach,

(G3303 μέν men (men’) prt. (properly) in fact (indicative of affirmation or concession).

G4413 πρῶτος protos (prō’-tos) adj. foremost (in time, place, order or importance).

G3056 λόγος logos (lo’-ğos) n. 1. a word, something said (including the thought).

(by implication) a saying or expression. 3. (by extension) a discourse (on a topic).

G4160 ποιέω poieo (poi-ye’-ō) v. to make or do.

G4012 περί peri (pe-riy’) prep. Concerning

G3956 πᾶς pas (pas’) adj. all, any, every, the whole

G2424 Ἰησοῦς Iesous (yee-sous’) n/p. (meaning) He is Salvation, Yahweh saves (i.e. the Savior)

G756 ἄρχομαι archomai (ar’-cho-mai) v. to commence (in order of time).

²Until the day in which he was taken up G353, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

(G353 ἀναλαμβάνω analambano (a-na-lam-ɓa’-nō) v. to take up. [from G303 and G2983] G303 ἀνά ana (a-na’) prep. 1. (properly) up. 2. (by extension, used distributively) amidst or severally, etc. G2983 λαμβάνω lambano (lam-ɓa’-nō) v. 1. (actively) to take. 2. (passively) to receive. 3. (objectively) to get hold of (with the hand).

What it is telling us:

“The foremost fact I wish to express to you Theophilus is concerning the whole teaching of Yeshua Messiah, from the beginning until the day He was taken to the Kingdom of God, and after which through the Ruach HaKodesh he instructed the Apostles about the instructions (Torah).”

So often the idea of being ‘taken up’ is considered to be lifted to a height or raised into the air. While this concept is not without merit it should be considered elementary in its use. As with this example one should consider this in the same vein of thinking as does your ill-informed preacher, when calling for the collections, he will say “we will be taking up an offering”. Should we be as literal with this as we are in the interpretation of the scripture we would see people either throwing their money at the ceiling or those attempting to levitate their checkbooks.